
SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON QUARTERLY
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3.
The Pharisees were very particular in the matter of
tithing. They had been faithful in this, but had utterly neg-
lected to exercise the virtues of justice, mercy, and faith.
Jesus said to them in effect, You "ought" to have cherished
these precious virtues, but you ought "not to leave the other
[tithe-paying] undone." "Ought" is a strong word, carrying
the meaning of moral obligation.
4.
The position and offices given by the inspired Word to
the, ministry as a whole, carry the gravest responsibilities,
and show the confidence Christ placed in these servants who
labor under His great commission. Some of these names or
titles are: elders, bishops, ministers, ambassadors, priests,
Levites, messengers, apostles, pastors, evangelists, teachers,
shepherds, servants, overseers, watchmen, and prophets. Who
can conceive of a nation sending a messenger, or appointing
an ambassador to represent it, and not providing for the
support of this representative? Much more does Christ, by
reserving the tithe, provide the means to sustain His own
servants. When we withhold our tithe, we not only rob
Christ, but we rob the dying people of this world of the mes-
sage of life, for this is heaven's appointed way of sending the
gospel to a perishing world.
5.
The apostle acknowledges to the Corinthian church that
he did them a wrong in not impressing upon them the duty of
supporting the Lord's ambassadors and acknowledging God's
ownership; and he asks them to forgive him this wrong.
"Of the tree of knowledge of good and evil they were not
to eat. This tree God reserved as a constant reminder of. His
ownership of all. . . .
"So it is with God's claims upon us. He places His
treasures in the hands of humanity, but requires that one
tenth shall be faithfully laid aside for His work. He teaches
us the lesson that He requires this portion to be placed in
His treasury. It is to be rendered to Him as His own; it is
sacred, and is to be used for sacred purposes, for the support
of those who carry the message of salvation to all parts of the
world. He reserves this portion, that means may ever be
flowing into His treasure house, and that the light of truth
may be carried to those who are nigh and those who are afar
off. By faithfully obeying this requirement, we prove that we
realize that all belongs to God. . . .
"And shall not our gratitude offerings flow into the Lord's
treasury, to be drawn therefrom to advance His kingdom in
the earth? God is the owner of all our goods, and shall not
gratitude to Him prompt us to make freewill' offerings and
thank offerings, thus acknowledging His ownership of soul,
body, spirit, and property?"—"Special
Testimonies for Min-
isters," No. 9, pp. 69, 70.